Articulated car



2 sheets-sham 1 F. MGF. BRINCKERHOFF ARTICULATED CAR Filed March 21, 1927 Illlllll v:.Illllllll INVENTOR Sept. 20, 1927.

. WITNESS Sept' 20 1927' F, MCF. BRINCKERHOFF ARTICULATED CAR Filed March 2l. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR e riedby a single truck, and has for an object Patented Sept. 20,1927.

FRANCIS MOF. BRINCKERHOFF, F SUFFERN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO PRESSED STEEL CAR COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JER- SEY.

ARTIGULATED can.

Application filed March 21, 1927. Serial No. 176,864.

tional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 50

This invention relates to transportation cars and particularly to railway cars of the articulated unit type in which the adjacenty ends of two of the bodies of the car are cart-he provision oi a connection for saidbodes and truck which will permit the bodies to swivel relative to each other and will also permit relative swivelling movement between' l@ the bodies and the truck, and at the same time will prevent undue longitudinal movement of the bodies relative to the truck and to each other.

Another object of the invention is to pro- 15 vide an articulation connection between the adjacent ends of two bodies of an articulated car and their supporting truck, which connection is so formed that the weight of the bodies will tend to automatically maintain the several partsof the connection in their operative positions.

Another object of the invention is to provi e bearing means between a truckI and the adjacent ends of two bodies of an articulated car which will. due to the weight of the bodies and the shape or form of the bearing means, tend to automatically maintain the bodies in operative engagement with each other at all times.

A further object of the invention is to provide the adjacent ends of two bodies of an articulated car with means for transmitting buiiing shocks from one of said bodies to the other, and also to provide such ends and their supporting truck with bearing means which when in cooperative engagement tend to maintain the means for transmitting the buing shocks in engagement at all times. j A

These and other objects will be apparent from the following` description.

Referring to the drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts, Fig. 1 is a planview of portions of the adjacent ends of two bodies of an articulated car embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail plan view of portions of the adjacent ends of two bodies of the car embodying the invention; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal secl cessive, thus preventin 2 and Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the reference character 1 indicates an articulated car unit which may comprise two or 5.5

scription is applicable to the adjacent ends ,60

of any two bodies. When the car comprises two bodies there will be three trucks, one supporting the adjacent ends of the two bodies. and one supporting the opposite end of each body. When the car comprises three bodies there will be Vfour trucks, thus it will be seen that for every body additional to two. there will be another truck.

The adjacent ends of the bodies 2 and 3 have underframe members 4 and 5, each which, in the present embodiment of the invention, are cast integral, but it will be understood that these underframe members may be made of any other suitable construction. Each one of these underframe members is provided with a downwardly depending portion 6 which has a convex bearing surface 7 such bearing surface being in the form of a portion of a sphere, the center of which sphere is substantially midway between said ends and directly above the center of the bearing surface of a truck bearing member 8 secured to the bolster 9 or any other suitable part of a truck. The bearin member 8 has a concave bearing surface 1% which conforms to the shape of the bearing surfaces 7 of the members 6. In the present embodiment of the invention the surface 11 is formed on a removable liner 12, but it will be understood that this liner may be omitted and the bearing surface formed on the member 8. The sides of the member 8 above the surface 11 extend vertically as indicated by the reference character 13 and are adapted to be engaged by the portions 6 when the bufting, pulling and service shocks are exaccidental separation of the bodies and t e truck.

When thebearing surfaces 7 ot the meinbers 4 and 5 and the bearing surface 11 are in cooperative engagement as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the members 4 and 5, above the surfaces 7 and 11, engage with each other as indicated by the reference character 14. The point or area of contact 14 between these members is at substantially the longitudinal center line of the ear and thus it. will be seen that butting shocks are transmitted substantially independent ot the body and truck bearing members. Transversely and vertically from the point or area of contact 14 the end surfaces of the members 4 and 5 diverge outwardly, thus providing sufficient space between the members around the point or area of Contact 14. to permit the bodies to swivel freely in all directions relative to each other without any binding action between the bodies.

When the bodies are being carried by the trucks, the bearing surfaces 7 on the underframe members 4 and 5 will engage or cooperate wit-h the bearing surface 11 on the truck bearingmember in such amanner that the weight ot the bodies will tend to force the members 4 and 5 toward each other at all timesl and will thus, under ordinary service conditions, maintain the members 4 and 5 in Contact with each other vat all times at the point or area 14, and will thus keep the portions 6 in spaced relation with each other. lt will thus be noted that the adjacent ends of two of the bodies of the car, due to the shape l et' and cooperation of the bearing surfaces 7 and 11 as well as the weight of the bodies, will be maintained in engagement with each other by gravity under all service conditions and due to the comparatively small area of contact between the members tand 5, and the clearance provided around this area, the bodies are free to swivel in all directions relative to each other. 4 i

i ll' am aware that many changes may be made in the details of the several parts of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus describedthe invention what l claim as new and desire to .secure by Letters Patent is 1. ln an articulated car comprising a plurality'of cafr bodies, a truck for carrying the l adjacent ends of two of said bodies, a body bearing member for each of said ends, and a single truck bearing member adapted to be engaged by both of said body bearing.

members, said bearing members having bearing surfaces adapted to cooperate to tend to draw said ends together at all times. A

2. lin an articulated 'car'eomprising a plu rality otcar bodies, a truck for carrying the adjacent ends of twoof said bodies, a smg'le truck bearing, and a two .partbody bearing enga ing said truck bearing, said bearing mem ers having bearing surfaces adapted to neeaeee cooperate to tend to draw said ends together at all times. l

3. llnlan articulated car comprising a plul rality of car bodies, a truck for carrying the adjacent endsot two ot' said bodies, a two part body bearing and a truck bearing connectingsaid bodies and trneh' and providing for swivelling movement in all directions between said bodies and between said `bodies and said truck.

4. ln an articulated ear 'comprising a plurality of car bodies, a 't ruck tor carrying' the adjacent ends of two of said bodies. a. truck bearing, and spaced body bearings movable relative to each other and adapted to cooperate with said truck bearingr wherel'iy said body bearings tend to center themselves on said truck bearinfr.

5. In an articulated car comprisingv a plurality of car bodies. a truck supporting the adjacent ends of two of said bodies. a truck bearingv having` a bearing surface higher around its outer portions than at its center. and body bearings having bearing surfaces adapted to cooperate with said portions, said body bearings being spaced apart at the center of said truck bearing'.

6. In an articulated car comprising a plurality of car bodies. a truck .L-:npportingh ther rality of car bodies, a. projection on the endq of one of'said bodies adapted to engage a projection on the adjacent end of an adjacent body, a truck .for carrying said ends. and bearing means between said ends and truck adapted to maint-ain said projections in engagement with each other at all times.

8. ln an articulated car comprisinga plurality of car bodies, the. adjacent ends of two of said bodies bein;r adapted to engage each other, a. truckfor carrying: said ends, an articulation joint connecting said bodies with each other and with said truck. said joint being adapted to maintain said ends in engagement with each other by gravity.

9. lin an articulated ear eon'lprising a plurality of car bodies. the adjacent ends of two of said bodies beinft adapted to engage each other, a truck, `and an articulation joint connecting` said bodieswith. each other and with said truck, said joint beinef adapted to automatically cause 4forces to be exerted on said ends which tend to move said ends toward each other for n'iaintaining saidA ends in cooperative engagement.

10. In an articulated car con'iprisingf` a plurality of ear bodies, a truck tor'supportingr the adjacent ends of two 'of said bodies, an articulation joint between said ends and truck, said joint comprising two body bearings and a truck bearing, said bearings having bearing surfaces adapted to cooperate to tend to draw said ends together at all times.

11. In an articulated car comprising a plurality of car bodies, a. truck, a bearing member on said truck, said bearing member having a concave bearing surface in the form of a portion of a sphere, a body bearing member on the end of one of said bodies adapted to cooperate with said truck bearing inem ber, a body'bearing member on the adjacent end of an adjacent body adapted to cooperate with said truck bearing member, said body bearing members having convex bearing suryfaces conforming to the shape of the bearing surface on said truck bearing member, and means for spacing said body bearing mem-` bers apart.

12. In an articulated car comprising a plurality of car bodies, a truck for carrying adjacent ends of two of'said bodies, a body bearing member on each of said ends anda truck bearing adapted to be engaged by saidv body bearing members, said body bearing members beingspaced apart and operating with said truck bearing member to tend to cause said bod bearing members to move toward each ot er at all times.

13. In an articulated car comprising a plurality of car bodies, a truck for carrying the ad'acent ends of two of said bodies. cooperating bodyand truck bearings connecting said bodies and truck, the bearing surfaces of said bearings being so formed as to cause said ends to be maintained in their proper operative positions relative to eachv other by gravity.

14. In an articulated car comprising a plurality of car bodies, a truck for carrying the adjacent ends of two of said bodiesco operating body and truck bearings connecting` said bodies and truck, said truck bearing having a concave bearing surface in the form of a portion of' a sphere and each of said body bearings having a convex bearing surface conforming to the shape of said truck bearing surface, said bearing surfaces adapted to cooperate to permit swiveling movement of said bodies relative to each other. j

15. In an articulated car comprising a plurality of car bodies, a truck for carrymg the adjacent ends of two `of said bodies, a truck bearing having a concave bearing surface in the form of a portion of a sphere, a body bearing on one of said ends adapted to cooperate with said truck bearing surface, a bearing on the other of said ends adapted to coo crate with said truck bearing surface, sai body bearings being spaced away from each other in a direction 4longitudinally of the car.

16. In an articulated car comprising a plurality` of car bodies, a truclr for the adjacent ends of two of said bodles, a bearing plurality of car bodies, a truck, a bearmg member on said truck, bearingr members on the ad'acent ends of two of said bodies adapte to cooperate with the bearing member on said truck, the bearing surfaces of ,said bearing members being in the form of a portion of a sphere, the center of which sp 1ere is directly above the center of the truck bearing surfaces.

18. In an articulated car comprising a plurality of car bodies, a truck,- a bearing member on said truck having a concave bearing surface, two bearing members for the adjacent ends of two of said bodies having bearing surfaces adapted to cooperate with the bearing surface of said truck bearing member, each of said body bearing members occupying less than half the internal space in said truck bearing member.

19. A universal joint for the adjacent ends of two bodies' of an articulated car and a truck, said joint comprising a plurality of cooperating bearing members whose cooperating bearing surfaces are in the form of a portion ofa sphere, the center of which sphere is above all of said bearing surfaces.

20. A universal joint'for a railway car and one of its supporting trucks, said 'oint comprising a plurality of cooperating earing members whose cooperating bearing surfaces are in the form of a ortion of a sphere, the center of which spliere is above all of said bearing surfaces.

21. In an articulated car comprising a plurality of car bodies, a truck, a bearing member. .on said truck havingr a single bearing surface, and bearing surfaces on the adjacent ends of two of said bodies adapted to engage the single bearing| surface of the member on said truck, said bearing surfaces conforming `in shape to each other.

22. In an articulated car, the combination with the adjacent ends of two car bodies and a supporting.;r truck therefor, of a lurality of supporting bearings for said en s, and a bearing member or said truck having a single socket adapted toreceive said supporting bearings.

23. In an articulated car comprising a plurality of car bodies, a truck for4 carrying the adjacent ends of two of said bodies, projections on said ends adapted to engage with each other, and bearing means between said bodies and truck whereby said bodies and truck may swivei in any direction around the engaging portions of said projection.

24. A. connection between the adjacent ends of tw bodies of an articulated car and a truck, comprising. a plurality of bearings forsaid ends adapted to cooperate with a single bearing on said truck,

25., A `connection. between the adjacent ineeaeee ends of two bodies of an articulated car and a supporting truck, comprising a pivot between said ends, bearings between said truck and said ends adapted to permit rotation in any direction, said pivot being the center of rotation of' said bearings.

n testimony whereof I aix lmy signature.

FRANCXS Moll?. BRINCKERHUFF. 

